Our Story
Named after the legendary Queen of Sheba and her spirit of cultural exchange, we are a bridge between worlds — bringing the flavours of Yemen to London, where tradition meets the modern city.
London's first Yemeni restaurant
In 2005, our founders arrived in London from Sana'a carrying their family recipes and a deep passion for hospitality. They opened a small family restaurant on Bouverie Place, in the heart of Paddington.
Two decades later, Queen of Sheba has grown into a well-loved local institution — and it still feels like a family home.
Discover the menu“Food is the universal language of hospitality, and in Yemen, hospitality is sacred.”
The family behind the door
The faces you'll see at the tandoor, at your table and at the door — many of them for years.
What we cook by
Milestones on the road
- 2005Rafiq Al-Awdi opens Queen of Sheba
A small family restaurant on Bouverie Place, Paddington.
- 2005London's first Yemeni restaurant
Believed to be the first restaurant in London dedicated to Yemeni cuisine.
- TodayStill family-run
Serving mandi, saltah and fahsa to Paddington and beyond — now with a traditional Yemeni breakfast menu too.
Authentic, from the source
We don't adapt Yemen for London. We bring Yemen to London.
Sidr honey, Yemeni coffee and spices from Hadramaut.
Passed down through generations, never simplified.
Stone-pot cooking, tandoor-baked bread and slow roasting.
Cooked exactly the same way since 2005.